Eight Republican candidates participate in the first Tea Party Republican Debate Monday on CNN. Read the live blog below. Follow all the issues and campaign news about the debate on CNNPolitics.com and @cnnpolitics on Twitter. Watch the debate on CNN TV, CNN.com and mobile devices.

9:51 p.m. ET–Bachmann: Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution

9:51 p.m. ET–Romney: A bust of Winston Churchill.

9:50 p.m. ET–Perry: The most beautiful, most thoughtful, incredible first lady the nation has ever seen, my wife Anita.

9:50 p.m. ET–Paul: A bushel basketful of common sense. A course in economics.

9:50 p.m. ET-–Gingrich: Well, first of all, I would reduce the White House by kicking out all the White House czars the first day, creating a lot more space. And then, because of Callista's interest, we'd have a lot more music, because of my granddaughter, Maggie, we'd have ballet, and because of my grandson, Robert, we'd have a very large chess set. So it'll all come together.

9:50 p.m. ET –Santorum: We have 7 children. We'd add a bedroom, or bring some beds to the White House.

9:49 p.m. ET–Q: What would you bring to the White House if you were president?9:46 p.m. ET–@DWStweets Hispanic voters were sent a pretty clear message tonight about how GOP field feels about their priorities. #notwelcomehere #CNNTeaParty

9:44 p.m. ET–Huntsman: We are 10 years into this war, Sahar. America has given its all in Afghanistan. The time has come for us to get out of Afghanistan. We don't need 100,000 troops there when this nation needs to be built. When we start shining again, it's going to help the women of Afghanistan, along with any other NGO work that can be done there and the collaborative efforts of great volunteer efforts here in the United States. We can get it done, but we have to make sure that the Afghan people increasingly take responsibility for their security going forward.

9:43 p.m. ET–Q from audience: I was brought here from Ronald Reagan. I am from Afghanistan.
What will you do to secure safety and protection of the women and the children of Afghanistan from the radicals?

9:42 p.m. ET–Paul: As long as this country follows that idea, we're going to be under a lot of danger. This whole idea that the whole Muslim world is responsible for this, and they're attacking us because we're free and prosperous, that is just not true.

9:41 p.m. ET–Santorum to Paul: On your Web site on 9/11, you had a blog post that basically blamed the United States for 9/11. On your Web site, yesterday, you said that it was our actions that brought about the actions of 9/11. That is irresponsible. Someone who is running for the president of the United States in the Republican Party should not be parroting what Osama bin Laden said on 9/11. We are not being attacked because of our actions.

9:40 p.m. ET–Paul: I'm tired of all the militarism we're involved in and wasting this money. There's a lot of room to cut on the military, but not on defense. We're under great threat because we occupy so many countries.

9:39 p.m.ET–Q from Twitter: Do you believe in cutting military spending to balance spending? Or do you believe high spending is essential to security?

9:37 p.m. ET–Cain: Remove barriers by the federal government. I would start with an EPA that's gone wild.
9:37 p.m. ET–Q from Phoenix, Arizona: What will you do to ensure that energy independence will finally become a reality?

9:37 p.m. ET–@AnnCoulter I didn't mind the vaccine, social security is a ponzi scheme, but the illegal immigration issue is killing Perry.

9:36 p.m. ET–Huntsman: Fix Homeland Security.

9:35 p.m. ET – @PaulBegala: Boos for Perry & his DREAM Act for children who came to TX w/undoc parents. I'm beginning to think this crowd is right-wing. #CNNTeaParty

9:35 p.m. ET–Perry: This is a states' rights issue. And that was to give people the opportunity to go on to college and not be a drag on the system. It worked well and it works for the state of Texas.

9:34p.m. ET–Romney: The question was how to we attract Hispanic votes. And the answer is tell them what they know in their heart and that's that they and their ancestors did not come here for a handout. Of course we build a fence. Of course we don't' give in-state tuition credits to people who come here illegally.

9:32 p.m. ET–@PeterHambyCNN Bachmann & Santorum doing what they needed to do tonight: Not let up on Perry, stay punchy, be as conservative as possible

9:32 p.m. ET–Huntsman: For Rick to say that you can't secure the border is I think pretty much a treasonous comment. We can secure the border through the use of fences...we can get it done.

9:31 p.m. ET–Bachmann: That's not the American way.

9:31 p.m. ET–Perry: In the state of Texas if you're working and pursuing citizenship, you pay in-state tuition and it doesn't matter how your last name sounds.

9:30 p.m. ET–@rolandsmartin: Santorum wants English as the official language on what to do to attract Latino voters. Yep, that'll do it, Rick! LOL #CNNTeaParty

9:30 p.m. ET–Q from Twitter: What are the candidates doing to attract Latino voters?

9:29 p.m.ET–Perry says he has more experience than anyone else on the stage when dealing with immigration. Perry: 1200 miles of Texas and Mexico and our federal government has been an abject failure at securing our border. The idea that you're going to build a wall is just not reality. What you have to have is boots on the ground.

9:28 p.m. ET–Santorum: We need to build more fence, we need to secure the border using technology and more personnel. After the borders are secure, then we can deal with the problems that are in this country.
9:27 p.m. ET–Q from Cincinnati, Ohio: What would you do to remove illegal immigrants from this country?

9:20 p.m. ET–Bachmann: No state should be able to force anyone to buy anything. This is the election that's going to decide if we have socialized medicine in this country or not.

9:18 p.m. ET–Paul: That's what freedom is all about, taking your own risk. It's about individual responsibility. I've worked in hospitals, we've never turned anyone away. We should legalize alternative health care and allow people to do what they want.

9:18 p.m. ET–Q: If an uninsured 30-year-old has a serious accident, who would pay for treatment under your health plan?

9:17 p.m. ET–@murphymike: That screaming laughter you hear in the distant air is the POTUS doing a wild happy arm flapping super jig in WH while watching all this.

9:15 p.m. ET–Romney stands by his law in Massachusetts. Romney: I'm not running for governor, I'm running for president. On day one as president I'd repeal Obamacare. Says what he did and what the president did are very different.

9:14 p.m. ET–Q from Orange Park, Florida: What will you do to reduce the cost of health care?

9:12 p.m. ET–Santorum: What Gov. Perry is saying is he believes his policy was right. I believe it was wrong. This was bad policy and it should not have been done.

9:10p.m. ET–Perry: The company was Merck. The donation was $5,000. I've raised $30 million on my own. I can't be bought for $5,000. If you're suggesting I can, I'm offended.

9:10 p.m. ET–@rolandsmartin: Ooh! Bachmann went there! She is trying to tie the drug company with the vaccination in Texas to campaign contributions #CNNTeaParty

9:10 p.m. ET--Bachmann accuses Perry of benefiting from executive order in Texas

9:08 p.m. ET–Perry: If I had it to do over again (signing executive order requiring vaccine against cervical cancer in Texas), I would do it differently. But what was driving me was making a difference in young people's lives. I will use an executive order to get rid of as much of Obamacare as I can.

9:07 p.m. ET–Paul: They've been grossly abused by the administration for years. It should never be used to legislate. That's what is so bad.

9:06 p.m. ET–Q from Virginia: How frequently should executive order be signed?

9:05 p.m. ET–Romney: The idea of a national sales tax has a lot to go for it. It would make us more competitive globally and level the playing field in the country. But the way it's structured is a real problem, it lowers the burden on the very highest income folks and it hurts the middle class the most.
9:04 p.m. ET–Q from Cincinnati, Ohio: Would any of you be willing to support a fair tax?

8:58 p.m. ET–Bachmann: That's up to Gov. Perry. I wouldn't keep him as chairman. The federal reserve has a lot to answer for. They've got to be put on a tight leash.

8:57 p.m. Q: Do you agree with Perry, who came close to accusing Fed chief Bernanke of treason?

8:56 p.m. ET–Cain: Yes it should be audited. And I believe it's focus needs to be narrowed. I don't believe in ending the fed, I believe in fixing the Fed.
8:55 p.m. ET– Santorum: Yes. With respect to the last segment, what we need to do is have a pro-growth plan that can pass the Congress with Democratic support.

8:54 p.m. ET–Q from Gastonia, North Carolina: What is your position on the Federal Reserve? Should it be audited?

8:50 p.m. ET–Cain: Absolutely.

8:49 p.m. ET–Q: Can you be pro-business and pro-worker at the same time?

8:49 p.m. ET - @EWErickson: My big question right now: will Perry fade into the 2nd hour? He did last time. If not, he's locking in his front runner status.

8:48 p.m.ET-Gingrich: Go to the American people. Turn up the light on the people and they'll turn the light up on Congress. I'd be glad to work with Democrats in any office but I'd do it on principle, not on compromising principle.

8:48 p.m. ET-Q: Would you compromise with Democrats?

8:47 p.m. ET- Perry: While I've been governor, I've cut taxes. There are people coming to Texas because they know there's still a land of freedom in America and it's called Texas.

8:46 p.m. ET-Paul: Not quite. I'm a taxpayer there, my taxes have gone up. I don't want to offend the governor, he might raise my taxes.
8:44 p.m. ET- Romney: Yes. But if you're dealt four aces you're not necessarily a good poker player.
8:43 p.m. ET-Q: Does Perry deserve credit for jobs created in Texas?

8:42 p.m. ET–Romney: The world has changed. We've gone from a pay phone world to a smartphone world and President Obama keeps jamming quarters into the payphone...its not going to work, it's not connected.

8:40 p.m. ET–Bachmann: I was one of the only people in the country that said "Do not raise the debt ceiling." Repeal Dodd-Frank, repeal Obamacare, it's really not that hard to try, you just have to have the backbone to do it.

8:39 p.m. ET–Perry: People are tired of us spending money on programs we don't want.
8:37 p.m. ET–Huntsman: Reform the tax code. Second is regulatory reform. Businesses are saying there's no predictability. Third, energy independence.
8:36 p.m. ET– Q from Portsmouth, Virginia : what would you do to get the economy moving forward?

8:32 p.m. ET--Bachmann: Principles needs to change. For years politicians have run on the idea that government takes care of these things...we've been paying for the freight of all these things. We have to be an ownership society with individual responsibility.

8:31 p.m. ET–Paul: No. Cut the Dept. of Education, the Dept of Energy.

8:29 p.m. ET–Q: Would you work to repeal the Medicare prescription drug benefit?

8:26 p.m. ET–Gingrich: We need to cut government waste.

8:25 p.m. ET–Q from Pleasanton: What is your plan to balance the budget and get spending under control?

8:24 p.m. ET - EWErickson: I think having a #CNNTeaParty debate helps the candidates. Tonight they know who their audience is.

8:22 p.m. ET–Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum: Well, the question is who is with me? Because I've been out here talking about - you want to talk about courage to tell the truth, Governor? I was out in 1994 running against a Democratic incumbent in a campaign managed by James Carville, and I went out and talked about Social Security reform.
8:22 p.m. ET–Q:Senator Santorum, when it comes to Social Security, are you with Governor Romney or Governor Perry?

8:21 p.m. ET–Gingrich: I just want to make two simple points about Social Security and how you save it. The first is, you get back to a full employment economy, and at four percent unemployment you have such a huge increase in funding, that you change every single out year of projection in a positive way. The second is if you are younger - everybody who is older and wants to be totally protected, fine, no change. If you're younger and you would like a personal account, you would control instead of the politicians.

8:21 p.m. ET–Huntsman: I don't think anything should be off the table except the drama. To hear these two go at it...all I know is we're frightening the American people...the fixes are there.

8:20 p.m .ET–Texas Rep. Ron Paul: I agree that Social Security is broke.

8:20 p.m. ET– Romney: Governor, the term Ponzi scheme is what scared seniors.

8:19 p.m. ET Perry: The issue is are there ways to move the states into Social Security for employees or retirees. Rather than scare seniors, it's time to have a legitimate conversation in this country about how to fix the program.

8:17 p.m. ET Perry: If you're asking if they did the right thing 70 or 80 years ago, I'm not going to agree with that. But the question is do you believe it should be ended as a federal program?

8:16 p.m .ET–Romney: The term Ponzi scheme is over the top, unnecessary, and frightens people. He criticizes Perry's view on Social Security.
8:15 p.m. ET–Romney: The real question is does Gov. Perry continue to believe that Social Security should not be a federal program, is unconstitutional, and should be returned to the states?

8:15 p.m. ET–Texas Gov. Rick Perry: People who are on Social Security need to understand that program will be there for them. But the idea is we've not had the courage to look Americans in the face...look them in the eye and say this is a broken system...it's been called a Ponzi scheme by those long before me...but it needs to be fixed.

soundoff(2,499 Responses)

Dan Broughton

President Obama touted the future of solar energy and arranged for a $533 million stimulus loan to Solyndra. Less than two years later, Solyndra closed its doors, laid off 1100 workers and declared bankruptcy. We tax payers will have to absorb the $533 million write off.

I own a small high-tech company with 15 employees. We build web-based college course teaching content which saves students money on their books. We need a line of credit to help us through the tough months and add more jobs. Banks won't even talk with us unless we fully collateralize our loans. If we could do that, we wouldn't need to borrow cash.

We're not "politically connected" and haven't given large campaign contributions. What will the Tea Party/Republican candidates do to help real entrepreneurs to expand our businesses and grow the economy?

September 12, 2011 08:54 pm at 8:54 pm |

Tim in the West

Ron Paul seems like the only one worth my vote.

September 12, 2011 08:54 pm at 8:54 pm |

Daniel from George Washington University

Question: In your opinion what caused the 2008 financial meltdown which caused the current recession?

September 12, 2011 08:54 pm at 8:54 pm |

nosajaco

Ron Paul needs to battle more. He has an unmatched intellect and an unrivaled mastery of the constitution! Ron Paulllll! :]

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Thomas Howlett

I would like to see some really important questions being asked. For example. Would you have an unbiased investigation into the 9/11 incidents? Would anyone found guilty be tried for treason and murder and face capital punishment. Willing to start impeachment proceedings to get Obama out of office for his outright lies during his campaign? Or that Gvr. Rick Perry commited treason when he attended the Bilderberg Group meeting in 2007? Tough question that will never be answered :(

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Mrs. Ennen

Ask Cain and Bachmann more questions, they're the most interesting people up there. And Newt while you're at it, he's on fire!

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Paul

More poor moderation. Stop cutting certain people off and giving others more time. Ask a question and let everyone answer it in a specified amount of time. We want to hear from each candidate on each issue, not continued answers from two or three....or how the moderator wants to re-frame the question for each candidate.

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Cee.La.

It matters for naught, who is president, if they dont learn to compromise....... because the president cant do diddly.....by himself............

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Palinfan

I'm a Palin fan but it looks llike Newt is winning this debate to me...he outsmarts them all..

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Chris Sawyer

We have had almost three years of the blame game. Please stay on topic and tell us how you are going to fix the problems. We know what the proplems are. We live with the problems that this administration has brought everyday.

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

SDJ in GA

Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan, Does any body remember the 80's? Can you define Stagnation?

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Sharon

Obama is a liar and is trying to scare senior citizens ...all 50 million of them and baby they vote!!

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Jim B.

Lots of great ideas, but how do you get them through congress WITHOUT all the congressional pork added?

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

dacbeth

Blitz, stop changinjg the question that is asked byu the3 T Party

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Ilene Tunkelrott

To all of the Republicans. All of you have the finest Medical Care Insurance and Drug care coverage after 65 years of age. To the Hundreds of Seniors who do not, it seems you want to chip away at our coverage . What if it was your Mother or Father or Brother or Sister who was doing without. Taking away any parts of our existing programs will hurt the needy Seniors of America. I am sure it will not hurt your Mother, Farther, Sister or Brother. How do intent to protect the needy Seniors on Medicare and and Prescription Drug Programs

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

isabella

How many candidates up there have not received significant money from large corporations? Obama is doing a great job of paying off the favors he owes using his power and with our money. I am curious what favors will be owed, and to who, once one of these guys were elected?

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Beth Sidel

Medicare waste and fraud. Pharmacys are told they must charge for instance a nebulizer which cost about 80 dollars and they are told they are to charge three times when billing to Medicare. That is dishonest and waste.This is word from a pharmacists that has to go against her will to keep her job!

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Rick

If government is reduced such as the elimination of Dept of Energy – do we expect corporations to self-police themselves for ensuring public health and safety? Do you really expect that an enterprise that is profit motivated to focus on costs (such as safety) without a mandate or requirement? What do you do about nuclear safety? Will that be self-policed as well?

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Bob DeSimone

Perry is a career politician who was a democrat then a republican & now a tea partyer. Texas is at the bottom in education, teen pregnancy, pay for employees & the highest drop out rate in high school. I live in Texas & he is a phony!

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Edie Potts

Until you initiate the elimination of waste, fraud and abuse in county, state, city and federal governments along with the
100% repealing of Obama Care to vastly reduce the citizens burden, I will not be for any cuts, nor any other action to further hurt my income and living conditions.

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

AJ

I think Obama has successfully stopped the economy going over the cliff. Now we need to ramp it up with the next stimulus package. If anyone is talking sense, it is Obama today, and not the other side.

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Anonymous

Michelle, you sound like a little girl on the playground....give it up and lose the fake fingernails!

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Ken

Why doesn't the federal government begin to make spending cuts by first cutting their pay? Congress and the president both should lead by example instead of first looking at cutting military pay.

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

GeoLeo

I hope some of you watching debate and reading this blog entry, those of you who really love this country, will take a careful look at Ron Paul and his views. I love America. I dont love what it has become because it has been twisted and almost ruined. Please, if you're reading this give Ron Paul a chance. Despite what you've been told – he can win. He has to win.

September 12, 2011 08:55 pm at 8:55 pm |

Silvia

What do you mean by private retirement accounts? Would this involve investing in the stock market? Would this involve Americans putting money aside in a savings account? If this involves investing in the stock market, how can you guarantee that Americans would not be subjected by crooked practices by Wall Street as witnessed in the real Ponzi schemes of the 2008 crash?.